George W. Bush and Al Gore have shared their opinions through political commercials, speeches and interviews, but tonight is the first time the presidential candidates will argue their policies face-to-face. The first presidential debate will be aired live tonight from 8 to 9:30 on ABC, CBS, CNBC and FoxNews. Two more 90-minute presidential debates will be held Oct. 11 and 17, and a debate between vice-presidential candidates Republican Dick Cheney and Democrat Joseph Lieberman will air Thursday. While the candidates have been practicing their debating techniques, there won’t be speech writers on stage with them. The debates are a rare chance to see Bush and Gore react to pressure and accusations. For a bias-free view of the debates, the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics is holding a Debate Watch at 8 p.m. in Catt Hall. The center will be showing the debate without commercials and political commentary, leaving you free to form your own opinions. Watching the debates will give you your truest glimpse into the next leader of the free world, the man who – along with the three to four Supreme Court justices he’ll appoint – will influence your taxes, your income, your right to own a gun, your control over your body and your freedom of speech and religion. You can always tape “The Real World.” The three debates are your only chance to see the candidates face off for a 90-minute period. A political election should be about policy, not personality, kissing one’s wife or who’s better at chitchatting with Oprah. The debates don’t have a mugging host (just PBS’s Jim Lehrer) or a catchy soundtrack. The debates are politics without the thrills. They’re wordy. They’re long. They may be a bit dull. But the debates are your best opportunity to judge the better candidate. Watch them.Editorial Board: Carrie Tett, Greg Jerrett, Katie Goldsmith, Amie Van Overmeer, Andrea Hauser and Jocelyn Marcus